Kiboga District Engineers Remanded Over Alleged Theft of Road Fund Fuel Money
Two senior officials from Kiboga District have been charged and remanded over allegations of embezzling public funds intended for road maintenance under the government’s UGX 1 billion Road Fund.
Engineer Mukiibi Ismail, the District Engineer, and Bwante Moses, the Assistant Engineering Officer–Mechanical, appeared before the Kiboga Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing multiple counts of conspiracy to defraud the local government.
According to the Anti-Corruption Unit of State House, working with the Criminal Investigations Directorate and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the officials are accused of colluding with fuel station managers to siphon millions of shillings between 2023 and 2024. The money, sourced from the Road Maintenance Grant, was meant to fuel machinery and support roadworks in the district.
Investigations allege that the accused received cash kickbacks from fuel station managers in exchange for inflated or fictitious fuel claims. Some claims were reportedly made for vehicles that had been grounded since 2022, yet records were processed to indicate they were actively consuming fuel during the 2023/2024 financial year.
The prosecution informed the court that additional suspects, believed to have aided the scheme, are still at large, and efforts to apprehend them are ongoing.
The two officials were remanded until August 14, 2025, pending further investigations and consideration for bail.
The case has attracted national attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about corruption in local government structures and the misuse of funds meant for critical infrastructure projects.
The Anti-Corruption Unit has reiterated its commitment to combating graft, warning that public officials entrusted with service delivery will be held accountable for any misuse of public resources.
The Kiboga Road Maintenance Fund was intended to improve feeder roads and ease transport in rural areas. However, persistent complaints from residents about deteriorating road conditions raised red flags and prompted the investigation.
The matter will return to court later this month as inquiries continue into the full extent of the alleged fraud.
